IAN STAUFFER
istauffer@owatonna.com
Posted: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 9:48 pm

OWATONNA — Bethany Thompson left Owatonna to play volleyball at Bemidji State University, but figured she’d spend at least a year on the bench learning the college game.

Her plans changed quickly when she first went to practice in August.

“I came here thinking I would be playing in the middle position, but the coach noticed I had more qualities on the outside,” the 2009 OHS grad said. “I started training there right away, and I started the first match of the season.”

Thompson, who was the People’s Press player of the year last fall, is second on the Beavers with 113 kills and 360 total hit attempts. On the outside, Thompson said she is able to use her leaping ability to hit the ball straight down instead of quick hits in the middle.

“The main reason the coach put me out there was to give me the time to get up in the air,” Thompson said. “Plus I’m more experienced playing outside after starting there my senior year at Owatonna.”

Thompson played for now-retired coach Rod Nakagaki with the Huskies and led Owatonna to a Big Nine Conference title her senior year. She said her training regimen with Nakagaki is similar to what she does at Bemidji State.

“It helped a lot working with coach Nakagaki,” Thompson said. “A lot of his coaching techniques were similar to what I have now. I felt really prepared before I got here and I fit right in right away.”

Thompson’s best match so far this season came in the Beavers’ Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener against Southwest Minnesota State. Thompson had a career-high 16 kills in Bemidji State’s 3-2 loss. SMSU was ranked No. 12 in the nation at the time.


Thompson has reached double-digit kills in four matches this season and leads Bemidji State with 13 service aces.

Thompson said the adjustment to college life has been difficult but fun.

“It’s been a lot of fun in college,” Thompson said. “It’s definitely a change, only having two or three classes a day and making sure you get up every morning. It’s tougher with our travel schedule, too. It’s hard to keep up with the studying and getting the notes, but it’s been worth it.”

If anyone is interested in watching Thompson and the Beavers play, Bemidji State will be in the Owatonna area twice this month. On Friday, BSU plays at Concordia-St. Paul and on Oct. 30, the Beavers will be at Minnesota State, Mankato. In Mankato, Thompson will face former teammate Alli Rice, now a sophomore at MSU.